Mail-bag



(No Model.)

F. A. BROWN.

MAIL BAG No. 602,723. Patented Apr." 19,1898.

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' NrrED STATES PATENT Eric.

- FRANK A. BROWN, OF WEST PIKE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,723, dated April 19, 1898.

Application filed March 13,1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. BROWN, residing at Nest Pike, in the county of Potter and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Mail-Bag, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mail-bags, and more particularly to an improved fastening or locking means therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide a mail bag that can be quickly closed and locked in a shorter time than heretofore.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mail-bag that can be quickly opened or closed and also be provided with certain means whereby there will be no possibility of any of the contents thereof slipping out of the same. I

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a mail-bag so constructed that the upper edges thereof will be considerably strengthened against wear and tear.

IVith these and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in combinations and arrangements of parts more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a perspective view of my device in operative position closed and ready to receive alock. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the bag open; and Fig. 3 is a View, partly in section, on the lines 2 2 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention I have shown a mail-bag A, composed of any suitable material, having a stiff base or bottom, the lower edges of the material comprising the bag being preferably riveted, as shown at B, to the side edges of the base.

0 indicates the sides of the bag, which are riveted together, as shown, to a point near the upper portion thereof, so as to provide for the opening D of the bag. Secured to the inner portions of the opening and to the sides thereof are the tongues E, the same being provided with the brace or stiffening rod F on its upper portion and riveted thereto, so as to hold the same in the desired position.

These tongues fold into the opening of the Serial No. 627,301. (No model.)

bag as the same is closed, thereby preventing any possibility of the letters dropping through the bag at this point.

G H indicate the upper part of the bag. Riveted or otherwise secured to the portion G is a casing I, of any suitable metal, the same having its outer portion secured to the outside of the bag and then bent over, so as to form an inner opening .I, for the purpose hereinafter described. This casing carries a handhold I on the outside and in its upper central bent-over portion a slot or opening K. The part H of the bag has a similar casing or plate L secured thereto, but has no open space, the lower edges of the same'being securely fastened to the bag.

IVI represents a staple preferably formed integral with the upper surface of the case H, and N indicates a loop on the outer edge thereof.

The operation of the device is as follows: The bag is first filled, and when it is desired to close and lock the same the plate L, carrying the staple M, is slipped into the opening of the casing I until the staple has passed completely through the slot of the same. The bag will then be securely closed, as the same in closing will force the tongues E to fold within the opening of the bag. Any suitable lock or fastening means can. be then passed through the staple M and the loop N.

The invention is very simple in construction and can be easily manufactured at a slight cost, and the bag can be opened or closed in a very short space of time.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A mail-bag having the top opening, the side flaps, the tongues secured to the inner sides thereof, the brace-rods riveted to the upper portions of the tongues, the casing I secured to the upper portion Gr, an opening J formed within said casing, the opening K through the central part thereof, and a hook M formed integral with the upper edge of the plate L secured to the upper portion H of the bag, as

and for the purpose set forth. 

